Thinking of purchasing an older vintage Model 41

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member as of today. Been shooting a little bit recently and have tried several handguns. Was poking around and ran across the S&W Model 41. I've read some about it and found reviews and now have some questions of my more knowledgeable colleagues. (1) are there advantages to buying an older model 41? (2) Are the older models better than the new ones. (3) Do the new ones still come with 2 barrels - both 7 3/4 and 5" barrels (4) What is the best way to find an older model 41 and what is the range for a good one? (5) What would be the advantages of buying a new one and do they come with 2 barrels and what would be a good price for one.

You can tell I am very new at this - have shot over my lifetime and am not a serious collector nor do I have any guns at present. I am actually thinking of the Model 41 for home protection as well. With long riffle hollow points that is. Any comments and assistance would be greatly appreciated - thank you all for reading.

Tbrom

Welcome.
For starters,they never came with two barrels.
The barrels were made in 5 inch,5.5 inch 7 inch, and 7 3/8".
In the last few decades,only 5.5 and 7 inch barrels were made.

vintage 41

Welcome to the forum, if your talking home defense, I would just buy the new S&W Victory, if your planning on shooting hollow points or HV ammo.
The model 41 is and was designed foremost as a target pistol, shooting standard velocity ammo. As a collector I prefer the early A series guns, and shooting wise I prefer the 5 1/2 inch model, as do most shooters. It has better balance in the hands. Prices for these early models is all over the map right now, I saw a mint 7 3/8 in the A400000 range sell just over $1000.00, with matching box. If your not going to collect or worry about the after value then you can pick up any of the model 41's out there.
In my opinion the pre A and A series will always appreciate in value, with exception to the special release guns, and PC version. There are just too many model 41s out there. Unlike the model 46 of which 2500 exist, there values seem to lag behind the model 41, but will someday have as high a value. Anyway I feel there are too many choices out there in 22LR for you to pick, if your purely looking at home defense.

Welcome to the forum. You've asked several good questions about a great gun! I like Smithfan4152's answers above. And like him, I wouldn't recommend the 41 as a home defense gun. It is somewhat unwieldy in that capacity. However as a tack drivin' target gun, it ranks among the very best. I have an early A series 41 and the fit and finish is superb and of course accuracy is amazing. However, examples in excellent condition can be very pricey. I don't have any experience with the more recent 41s but I have read here on the forum that they are fine shooters too and some say they are just as good or better than the older ones, but I don't know.

If a .22 semi auto is what you have in mind for home defense you might want to take a look at the various Rugers that are available. They are very economical as well as reliable. I also very much like the Smith and Wesson Kit Guns (Md 34 and 63). These are superb .22 caliber revolvers. Personally, I prefer revolvers over semi autos for home defense but that's a very personal choice. But don't forget to get yourself a Md. 41!

I have a older M41 and a M46 as well. Either of these guns will serve you just fine. As suggested for a 1st gun I would also look at the Victory model with comes with a match barrel and other nice options as well. Its considerably cheaper then a M41. The M41 is a target pistol of extremely high grade which may be more then you need to start off with. The difference in savings would probably buy you both optional barrels as well as a lot of ammunition for the Victory model. You will need a cleaning kit as well altho they are quite reasonable in cost. Also Welcome to the Forum as well.

Thanks for all the responses

Thanks for the warm welcome; sure appreciate that as well as the helpful comments.

Yesterday I spent considerable time looking at youtube videos on all kinds of 22LRs. Also looked at the guns recommended like the Victory - nice gun and very accurate and as mentioned there are a lot of other compact 22LR semis out there. I looked at the M&B and the Ruger 22SR both compact 22s and very accurate in the right hands. There are some guys on YouTube that are super crack shots that are reviewing different handguns and doing accuracy tests on them and all are very accurate in a "practiced" hand.

Emphasis on practice and that's one thing many use the compact 1911 type 22s for. I like both the M&P 22200 - 22 single action 12 +1 model and the Ruger 22SR - both look like nice guns for home or CC protection and would be fun to shoot and cheap to plink with.

Second thing I read were two people's comments on why they actually feel the 22SR or a semi auto 22 compact is the right gun for them as a choice for self defense. They made a lot of sense to me - others have their own ideas I am very aware. But collateral damage is an issue with higher powered handguns either revolvers or SA types. So many had nothing but praise for the Ruger 22SR - as a reliable, light, compact hand gun that can receive scopes easily.

Saw a guy shooting a Ruger model that looked a lot like the Victory - can't remember the model right off - oh 22/45 model that the guy was hitting a target set up 200 yards away. So accurate - then 2 rather large guys were doing accuracy tests with the 22/45, the 22SR and the M&P 22LR shooting a target I guess that was 15 yards away I believe - the target had one large center bullseye and 4 smaller ones in each corner and they were both laying down very small patterns in the small targets with each one - patterns that were about the size of a silver dollar right on top of each other the 22/45 at that range appeared only marginally more accurate than the other compacts. Very impressive.

Other thing was the cost of the hand guns - you can buy 2 or 3 of these like the Victory or M&P 22LR or Ruger 22SR for what one used model 41 would cost in very good condition.

Each of these guys were talking having fired thousands of rounds with these handguns - Plinkster - and others had really great target areas set up in the yard (wish I had that luxury; would make it a lot more fun and inexpensive)! Great info out there on all these firearms.

The issue with my thinking is that 22s are very accurate, will surely do the job if needed for security and follow up shots are just as accurate and come off very quickly, and not much risk of bullets going thru one person and hitting innocent bystanders behind them, also easy and cheap to become very proficient with the handgun for both me and my wife. Not going to do much good to have a weapon that my wife won't practice with and become proficient with and that she enjoys shooting. She didn't like the 38 snub nose revolver she shot but shot many rounds with the 22.

If I buy a used one I gotta wonder how many rounds have been poured thru the barrel or why someone would be selling and at 400 bucks it's really worth buying new.

What do you guys have to say? Thanks everyone....

Glad to read that you found some excellent guns to consider. I like the .22 caliber too. I have numerous 22s and I love them all. However, I don't use them for home or carry, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't. It's just my personal preference.

But don't give up on getting a nice Md 41. I think the 5.5 inch version is one of the most elegant looking guns S&W has ever made. Anyway, as you know, they aren't exactly a bargain, but if you find one and pay a fair price and take care of it, it will almost certainly appreciate in value. Good luck shopping and let us know what happens.

Welcome from the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey.

Having had a pre-A model 41 (a very early example), as well as having had and been trained for a CCW, as well as doing some competitive pistol action shooting, I can perhaps relate a few friendly pieces of advice.

First, although the M41 is an absolutely excellent target pistol and is a real work of art to behold, it is NOT what you want for home protection. It is a pure target pistol, and in general, target pistols are finicky especially in the .22lr caliber. You don't want to pull a gun out in a bad situation and have it misfeed or misfire.

If you are interested in a semi-auto target pistol which will also double as home protection, I would have to suggest a NEW MANUFACTURE 1911 in 9mm from a reputable make such as Colt or Springfield. The trigger and sights on these can be had in very good form for target shooting, they are generally very reliable and 9mm is an adequate caliber for defense purposes without having too much recoil, and they are generally accurate as well.

If you are interested in revolvers as an alternative, and I would argue they are a better choice for your purpose, then I would suggest a s&w model 14 in .38special with 6" barrel. This will give you the option of a target-grade revolver with an adequately powered round for self defense, at a lower cost and greater simplicity than an equivalent 1911 - and it will be a fine work of art to boot. Recoil should be much less than your snub was. Remember that recoil is a result of two factors - weight of the gun and power of the round. A 6" model 14 will weigh much more than your snub, and will be much more fun to shoot.

Think I'll piggy-back (not hijack) on this thread.......... for info on the 41 and values...... haven't seen a used one for sale around "the Burgh" in years.

Tbrom......reading your OP.... as a "first" and multipurpose .22 pistol.... might I suggest a 4" Smith Model 18 or 617 revolver. Or, while not a target pistol I've been reading some good thing about the M&P .22 Compact.

For self defense ...... you could pick up a 9mm M&P.




I've got my Father's 41.......Serial# 41xxx it has a 7" barrel w/ muzzle break and cocking indicator. He had it as long as I can remember late 50s early 60s and used it shooting in the Pittsburgh Police Pistol League....remember him heading out one or two nights a week in the winter with it and his King tuned and sighted 6" Colt New Service in .357. Still have a bunch of his shooting trophy's at the Cabin.

Shot it a couple of years in College while shooting on the Rifle Team. I never lived up to that 41s ability. It's now a family heirloom.

Pardon the aside.........................

All great advice from posters. I will be a little more forthrigt. As a former instructor Detroit PD, DO NOT use a .22 for self defense. Penetration through leather, even denim pitiful. Get a revolver or a Glock, minimum
9 mm caliber, .40 SW even better. On to model 41....I have one...
OUTSTANDING bullseye gun. Not hard to find....Gun Broker.com has many.NOT cheap. This is a precision, high grade, target gun that will
easily shoot one hole groups. I shot one in bullseye competition, Model
52 for large bore. Model 52 is the ULTIMATE target gun IMHO!
Take a class for your carry gun. practice with it, then shoot your
Model 41 to unwind. Let us know what you decide to do!

Model 52?

Hey Folks,

It seems that many here don't believe that a 22 semi auto handgun is not a very good home security weapon. So in line with that the model 52 9mm was mentioned as the ultimate target gun - what about it for home security as well or even CC? I've looked at it and it is a very nice looking handgun and I'm wondering how others that may have shot this gun think of the recoil? It also seems like most of you guys have a lot more than one handgun. Looks like I could find a victory 22 or M&P 22LR and also a 9mm or 40 cal. handgun for a little more firepower for home or CC in a car, say when traveling. I still think if I were carrying anywhere like places I might go where the public would be I might still be inclined to CA a 22 semi auto because of the issue concerning collateral damage.

Your responses are welcome and thank you!

52

Hi again,
well I love the model 52-2, but only 5 rounds, 6 if you carry one in the chamber. I'm a high cap kind of guy. Many people have died after being shot with a 22LR. But when your shooting bad guy's, the only place I would want to hit would be in the head or neck. Not the largest target area.
I have recently started shooting 147 grain 9mm loads. A bit less recoil and my sig's are all very accurate for the job.
If I were going to spend that kind of money on either the model 41 or 52 for home security, there are just too many fine pistols out there for the job, that don't require special ammo, or 22LR.
I have a Glock 17L that I enjoy shooting, it's light, and accurate enough.
Welcome to the world of fine semi auto handguns....

I'll interject something I have not seen mentioned yet. Anyone who has shot enough 22 rimfire ammo will experience bad priming / misfires. Much more common in a rimfire than in a centerfire primer fired cartridge. A real consideration for SD use. At the least, I would want a rimfire DA revolver for the fast second shot offered in the event of primer failure.

Larry

By the way a deadly weapon is a deadly weapon. The point is that anything that will Reliably fulfill that function (hint, not 22) will also potentially be able to cause collateral casualties. That is why you Practice and Get Competent. There is no free lunch, only Responsibilty. And if you ever do need the Credible Threat of deadly force you will be glad to have something Adequate, and not a .22lr, when and or if you are defending your wife, daughter, son , or even yes, yourself, from Imminent Harm. If you have been there then you know what I'm saying is not BS. However Wisdom is Often Wasted on game players...

Game Players?

PzKfW5 said:

By the way a deadly weapon is a deadly weapon. The point is that anything that will Reliably fulfill that function (hint, not 22) will also potentially be able to cause collateral casualties. That is why you Practice and Get Competent. There is no free lunch, only Responsibilty. And if you ever do need the Credible Threat of deadly force you will be glad to have something Adequate, and not a .22lr, when and or if you are defending your wife, daughter, son , or even yes, yourself, from Imminent Harm. If you have been there then you know what I'm saying is not BS. However Wisdom is Often Wasted on game players...

Click to expand...

Not sure what is meant by the term "game players" and I assure you if I needed to call on a gun for protection I would not think of it as a game. I don't play video games either. I'm a 65 year old man that has gone thru his entire life thus far without the need for any type of weapon. I do not feel the need to arm myself for Armageddon or an Islamic terrorist attack. I do concern myself with collateral damage and no amount of practice can necessarily remove an innocent from being behind the "target" - 22LR shots will not exit the target and kill the innocent behind but a 9mm or 40 cal surely will.

I just watched a video on the lethal effects of 22LR bullets at many different ranges and all, up to a hundred yards, penetrated/went thru a 1/2" pine board. Point made was that a 22 is not a toy, it is lethal, if you are shot in the abdomen and do not get medical attention you will die. It is easier for a woman that has small wrists, like my wife, to shoot lots of bullets from a 22LR Compact and be very accurate rather than a 9mm. I like the idea of having magazines rather than trying to reload a revolver in the heat of aggression. I like 10 or 12 shots rather than 5 or 6 in a revolver. Shooting a 22LR at close range, say 20 or even 30 feet would still be easy, with practice, to hit your target in any spot you need to hit. A lot easier to get proficient with that a model 52 or snub nose 38 and CA is an issue. Maybe not that important to some and I really don't know if I would ever carry into a public place, just not me. Simple as that. So a larger gun as far as barrel length may be just fine if all I'm doing is using it for home or CA in a car on a long trip thru sparsely populated areas. It's all about, for me and my wife, having some fun practicing so we will be inclined to get good at shooting the gun we'll be depending on. It's not about some hypothetical situation and needing a lot of "firepower" in caliber of weapon to "take em down". A gun that I will never be able to get my wife to shoot enough to get very proficient with.

I still say that if someone came into the house and we were alerted, we are light sleepers, pull the gun, be down and ready hopefully, when the bedroom door opens and lay down an effective shot pattern with as many bullets as we have, if necessary, in the magazine in a highly effective manner. I am sure a 22LR at that range would be as effective as needed. If I'm in a situation on the road and someone pulls off to "help", my wife can pull the gun while I may be working on the tire and be ready with a watchful eye.

I do not live in a dangerous big city, lived in an area of Atlanta and was never worried, now retired in FL and really, really not worried about "home invasion". This issue may not even be that important for me to even CA, but if I did, I like the idea of carrying several magazines that are easy to load, and having a pistol I know I'm very accurate with because I practice and ENJOY my practice. I'm not military, not retired policeman, don't think that way. If I ever saw a time to change - I'll deal with that when the time comes.

So no, this isn't a game. I've thought this out, I think pretty well. We are all not in the same environment and we don't put ourselves in places that are suspect, like really bad parts of a big city, and we know the difference. Don't go to bars that are sketchy. We're a different type than some of you and that is not disparaging. Others may live in areas or do work in areas in a city where they don't feel particularly safe or they've been policemen, or trained them or have been in combat situations, and I appreciate all of those that have done that. We all do what makes us comfortable and that's pretty much it.

Thanks to all of you that have taken the time to write your comments to my post, the post of a newbie, and have been kind and helpful. All the comments have been helpful.

Thanks,
Tim

Welcome, also. Before investing $750-1500 in a top-flight handgun, it would be a good idea to do some homework on the subject. On the subject of defensive handgun use I would recommend two books by Massad Ayoob, "In The Gravest Extreme..." and "Deadly Force..." (there are subtitles to both but that will help you find them). Issues such as handgun type, caliber and legalities are well-covered.

For more information about S & W handguns specifically, the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd edition is currently available, and the 4th edition will be printed this summer. There is lots of information here on the Forum too - use the Search Site/Google function under Search. Hope this is helpful.

The model 41 is a target pistol. Specialized for that role. I have an older one. I like it. Even better since a trip to Clark Custom Guns, a trigger job and reliability package turned it into a lovely shooting thing that gladdens my heart when shooting it.
Home defense...shotgun.
any gauge will do , even 410. double barrel will work, pump is most often used in this role. If you have to use it there is a chance it will be taken for evidence. My daughter never got her r S&W revolver back, she shot an armed robber, her gun was taken as "evidence " years passed before the first trial , then it was needed for the appeals, more time passed, the the second robbers trials and appeals( two people were involved in the robbery ) more time passed . When she finally tried to get it back .....it had been misplaced !...lost...they couldn't find it.
So get a gun you don't mind losing for HD, a cheap pump shotgun not a nice model 41 .
Gary

Thanks Murphydog, I just did a search and listened to his video and it was super informative and also goes to prove one of my points and that is the issue of collateral damage. It also goes on to say that you better understand the law as it governs issues like when you can use a gun and when you better think twice or go on about your business which is exactly why I probably would never go into a public place carrying a firearm and why I better understand when it is ok to use a firearm if you happen to be carrying one. I can't thank you enough for sending this info. Everyone should watch his video.

Thanks so much,
Tim

gwpercle said:

The model 41 is a target pistol. Specialized for that role. I have an older one. I like it. Even better since a trip to Clark Custom Guns, a trigger job and reliability package turned it into a lovely shooting thing that gladdens my heart when shooting it.
Home defense...shotgun.
any gauge will do , even 410. double barrel will work, pump is most often used in this role. If you have to use it there is a chance it will be taken for evidence. My daughter never got her r S&W revolver back, she shot an armed robber, her gun was taken as "evidence " years passed before the first trial , then it was needed for the appeals, more time passed, the the second robbers trials and appeals( two people were involved in the robbery ) more time passed . When she finally tried to get it back .....it had been misplaced !...lost...they couldn't find it.
So get a gun you don't mind losing for HD, a cheap pump shotgun not a nice model 41 .
Gary

Click to expand...

Great advice and much appreciated! Best idea and good reason for using a gun worth about 400. That's what I've decided - something fun but not to expensive.

Thanks GW